Another musician pleads guilty in cocaine case

WESTERN BUREAU:
KHARELL WISDOM, one of the six entertainers arrested on cocaine charges last December, on Tuesday pleaded guilty and was remanded when he and two of his co-defendants appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Wisdom, who is a singer, pleaded guilty to the charges of possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export cocaine. He was subsequently remanded until April 20, when he will be sentenced.
“Sentencing is set on April 20, and a social enquiry report and his criminal records are being requested,” said presiding magistrate Natalie Hart-Hines, following Wisdom’s guilty plea.
Meanwhile, two of Wisdom’s co-defendants, singer Claudette Miller-Robinson and entertainment manager Simone Bacchas, had their respective cases set for mention on April 8, after the court was told that the forensic reports in their cases had not yet been typed.
Miller-Robinson, who is charged in relation to one pound of cocaine, had her bail extended, while Bacchas, who is charged in relation to one and a half pounds of cocaine, was remanded in custody.
The trio was among six persons who were arrested on December 18, 2014, after they were reportedly held with varying amounts of the substance at the Sangster International Airport, St James.
Two of the other defendants in the matter, Garth Jobson and Ramone Rowe, had pleaded guilty and were sentenced following their appearances before the Montego Bay RM Court on Monday March 23.
Jobson, who had pleaded guilty in relation to five pounds of cocaine, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment and was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 or serve six months’ imprisonment for the charge of possession of cocaine; and $200,000 or six months for attempting to export cocaine.
Rowe pleaded guilty in relation to two pounds of cocaine, and was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 for possession of cocaine; and $150,000 for attempting to export cocaine.
The sixth defendant, Kevin Tapper, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in, and attempting to export three and a quarter pounds of cocaine. His case has been set for sentencing on April 24.